Two more councils vote for devolution

D-Day is on the cards following approval by Cabinet members today (Wednesday, October 19) of Boston Borough Council's recommendation to forge ahead with devolution.

Cabinet gave delegated powers to the Leader of the council and the Chief Executive to give final approval once the terms of the order by the Secretary of State for a combined authority for Greater Lincolnshire are known.

Council Leader, Cllr Peter Bedford, told Cabinet colleagues that the City of Lincoln Council had voted unanimously for devolved powers from central Government, demonstrating the appetite there was for more controls at grass roots.

Every one of the ten councils in Greater Lincolnshire has to be in if powers are to be devolved from Government. The last council to vote will be South Holland, on October 26.

The Act of Parliament has been prepared for November, legal status for a Greater Lincolnshire Combined Authority will be activated from November, and the first tranche of £15 million for Greater Lincolnshire is already poised, waiting to be delivered early next year.

The Chancellor has already said that there will be an additional £5 billion available for housing and infrastructure and Lincolnshire could be in for a fair percentage of that.

There will be ten equal partners in the new combined authority - each with the same value vote. Boston's vote will have the same value as Lincoln's. The elected mayor will also have a vote, but anything proposed will have to have support from a two thirds majority.